Remote storage arrangement for dishwashing treating agent

ABSTRACT

Chemically active, liquid treatment agents are dispensed to a dishwashing apparatus which circulates liquid to cleanse soiled dishes from an intermediate reservoir at the dishwashing apparatus, with the intermediate reservoir being supplied with liquid treating agent by the combination of a remote storage reservoir, a flow motivating apparatus, and apparatus for controlling the flow of liquid treating agent between the reservoirs.

United States Patent Query 7 [$4] REMOTE STORAGE ARRANGEMENT FOR DISHWASHING TREATING AGENT [72] Inventor: Grady W. Query, 1725 Mist Hill Road, Matthews, N.C. 28105 [22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 111,304

[52] US. Cl. ..137/209, 134/95, 137/412, 137/624.ll [51] Int. Cl. .1308!) 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..l37/209, 433, 412, 624.18, 137/624.1l; 134/56 D, 57 D, 95; 68/17 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,865,534 12/1958 Barnes ..137/433X Dec. 26, 1972 2,358,591 9/1944 Pugatz ..l37/433 X 3,049,133 8/1962 Jacobs ..134/57 D 2,835,270 5/1958 York ..l37/4l2 3,090,849 5/1963 Coulin 1 37/412 X 3,044,285 7/1962 Koplin ..68/l7 R X Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Attorney-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT Chemically active, liquid treatment agents are dispensed to a dishwashing apparatus which circulates liquid to cleanse soiled dishes from an intermediate reservoir at the dishwashing apparatus, with the intermediate reservoir being supplied with liquid treating agent by the combination of a remote storage reser-- voir, a flow motivating apparatus, and apparatus for controlling the flow of liquid treating agent between the reservoirs.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures REMOTE STORAGE ARRANGEMENT FOR DISHWASI-IING TREATING AGENT Dishwashing apparatus which circulates liquid to cleanse soiled dishes is commonly used in circumstances where relatively large numbers of such dishes must be handled and cleaned within relatively short intervals of time, such as in restaurants and the like. Frequently, in order to avoid the necessity of delivering to the dishwashing apparatus water heated to the relatively high temperatures required to insure sterilization, sterilizing agents in the form of chemically active liquids are delivered to the dishwashing apparatus and circulated therewithin. In any instance, it is typical to circulate in the dishwashin g apparatus soap solutions or other chemically active treating agents for cleaning of the dishes.

Such chemically active, liquid treating agents frequently have toxic characteristics. While the levels of toxicity may be relatively low, the usual presence of a dishwashing apparatus in the kitchen area of a restaurant or other similarestablishment typically increases the possibility of inadvertent inclusion of such chemically active liquid treating agents in food prepared in the kitchen. Further, the typical prior practice of packaging the liquid treating agents in glass jars or jugs to be mounted above the dishwashing apparatus in a fountain dispensing arrangement presents the possibility of contamination resulting from dropping and breaking of such a container.

With the above discussion in mind, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the possibility that chemically active, liquid treating agents used in conjunction with a dishwashing apparatus might be accidently released in a kitchen, so as to avoid the danger of contamination which has been present under prior practices. In accomplishing this object of the present invention, a bulk quantity of liquid treating agent is received and retained in a storage reservoir remote from the dishwashing apparatus. The liquid treating agent is then supplied to the dishwasher under the motivation of a flow motivating means and under the control of a flow control means.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination of treating agent dispensing means and a dishwashing apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, partially in phantom, of a portion of the combination illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially schematic view including an elevation, in partial section, of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2',

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of a second form of the combination of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of yet another form of the combination of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. l-3 of the drawings, the present invention is there illustrated somewhat schematically in combination with a dishwashing apparatus generally indicated at 10. While one particular form of dishwashing apparatus has been illustrated as the apparatus 10, it is to be noted that the present invention contemplates the use of any conventional structure such as those apparatus widely known and used in restaurants and the like. Typically, such an apparatus 10 includes means (such as a pump not illustrated in FIG. 1) for circulating a solution of water and an appropriate chemically active, liquid treating agent and a cycle control means such as an electrical timer l2. Depending upon the particular details of the dishwashing apparatus 10, control cams and switches are provided in the timer 12 for governing the sequence of operation of the apparatus. In use, soiled dishes are received within the dishwashing apparatus 10 and are retained therewithin during dishwashing treatment. Such operation of the dishwashing apparatus 10 will be understood by persons familiar with the construction and use of such apparatus.

In accordance with the present invention, toxic liquid treating agents to be supplied to the dishwashing apparatus 10 are received and retained in bulk quantities in storage reservoir means remote from the dishwasher apparatus 10. Particularly where soap, a wetting agent, and a sterilizing agent are employed, three such storage reservoir means 20, 21,- 22 are provided and are located in a room remote from the dishwashing apparatus 10. As will be understood, the dishwashing apparatus 10 commonly is positioned in a restaurant kitchen and, in accordance with the present invention, the storage reservoir means 20, 21, 22 desirably are positioned in a storage room or other space remote from the kitchen.

Mounted at the dishwashing apparatus 10 and operatively communicating therewith are intermediate reservoir means 30, 31, 32 for receiving and retaining limited, small quantities of liquid treating agents. Each of the intermediate reservoir means 30, 31 and 32 operatively communicates with a'corresponding one of the storage reservoir means 20, 21, 22.

Flow motivating means is operatively connected with the reservoir means 20, 30, 21, 31, 22, 32 .for motivating and directing liquid treating agent to flow from the storage reservoir means to the intermediate reservoir means. In the form illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the flow motivating means comprises pressurization means connected to the storage reservoir means 20, 21, 22 for creating therewithin a predetermined pressure. As illustrated, suitable pressurized gas containers 24, 25, 26, are operatively connected with the storage reservoir means 20, 21, 22 for supplying gas under pressure thereto and thereby for imposing on the liquid treating agent retained in the storage reservoir means a force sufficient to cause the treating agent to flow from the storage reservoir means through connecting conduits 34, 35, 36 to the intermediate reservoir means 30, 31, 32.

Flow control means are provided for governing the delivery of liquid treating agent into the intermediate reservoir means 30, 31, 32 and, in accordance with the present invention, include float means mounted for movement within the intermediate reservoir means. For purposes of disclosure, one such float means 40 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, as cooperating with an intermediate reservoir means 30 (indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 2) and with a storage reservoir means 20.

In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the flow control means further includes valve means 38 operatively interposed between the storage reservoir means 20 and the intermediate reser- IOGOI? map voir means 30 for controlling operative communication therebetween through the corresponding conduit 34. As will be brought out more fully hereinafter, the valve means 38 is operative in response to the float means 40 for opening communication between the reservoir means in response to a drop in the level of liquid treating agent retained in the intermediate reservoir means 30. In this specific form, the valve means 38 comprises an electrical solenoid valve having an electrical wind- In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the float means 40 includes a float member 41 mounted from a pivot lever 42 for movement within the intermediate reservoir means 30 in response to fluctuations in the level of liquid treating agent retained therewithin. An electrical switch 44, preferably of the type known in the trade as a microswitch, is mounted to have an actuating lever 45 thereof overlying the lever 42 from which the float 41 is mounted, so that the conductive state of the switch 44 changes with movement of the float 41.

The electrical switch 44 is electrically connected to the solenoid valve 38 (FIG. 3) in order that the solenoid valve and switch cooperate in opening and closing communication through the conduits 34 between the reservoir means 20, 30. While disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3 with particular reference to one pair of a storage reservoir means and intermediate reservoir means 30, it is to be understood that corresponding flow control means are provided for other respective pairs of reservoir means 21 and 31, 22 and 32.

The present invention contemplates that the valve means employed need not necessarily be an electrical solenoid valve. In particular, FIG. 4 of the present drawings illustrates an arrangement similar to that of FIGS. 1-3 wherein the fluid treating agent is supplied under pressure through a communicating conduit 34' arid a valve means of differing type controls operative communication between the reservoir means. Where the embodiments of FIGS. 1-3 and FIG. 4 employ substantially common structure, prime notation is added to the reference characters used in FIGS. 1-3. In distinction from the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the valve means in FIG. 4 comprises a valve seat formed by a terminal end portion of a conduit member 50, located within the intermediate reservoir means A valve member 51 movable relative to the valve seat is mechanically coupled to the float means as being mounted upon the float lever arm 42. By movement of the valve member 51 with the float 41 in response to fluctuation in the level of liquid treating agent retained within the intermediate reservoir means 30, additional liquid treating agent is admitted thereto as required.

Yet another form of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the flow motivating means comprises pump means 54, 55, 56 mounted at the storage reservoir means 20", 21", 22" for pumping liquid treating agent to the intermediate storage means. In the form illustrated, the pump means 54, 55, 56 include corresponding electrical drive motors which may be selectively energized for pumping liquid treating agents from the corresponding storage reservoir means. In this embodiment, the flow control means includes pump control means operatively connected with the pump means for actuating the same in response to a drop in the level of liquid treating agent retained in the intermediate reservoir means, such as by employing electrical switches such as the switch 44 described hereinabove with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. By operative interconnection of the switches44 with respective ones of the pump means, liquid treating agent is caused to flow from the storage reservoir means to the intermediate reservoir means as required to maintain a desired level of liquid treating agents therewithin.

It is to be noted that, in each of the embodiments disclosed in greater detail hereinabove, dispensation of liquid treating agents from the intermediate reservoir means 30, 31, 32 to the dishwashing apparatus 10 is preferably through the interaction of the timer control 12 with individual dispensing solenoid valves controlling communication between the intermediate reservoir means 30, 31, 32 and the dishwashing apparatus. The cooperation of a main timer control and such solenoid valve means has been disclosed herebefore in connection with dishwashing apparatusand is known to persons skilled in the construction and operation of such apparatus.

In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. An arrangement for reducing the likelihood of accidental release of chemically active liquid treating agents in a food preparation area while accommodating use of such agents in dishwashing and comprising, in combination,

dishwasher cabinet means for receiving soiled dishes to be cleaned, means for circulating within said cabinet means a solution of water and a chemically active liquid treating agent,

storage reservoir means remote from said cabinet means and for receiving and retaining a bulk quantity of liquid treating agent,

intermediate reservoir means mounted on said cabinet means and operatively communicating with said storage reservoir means for receiving and retaining a limited, small quantity of liquid treating agent,

valve means interposed between said cabinet means and said intermediate reservoir means for controlling operative communication therebetween and flow of liquid treating agent into said cabinet means,

cycle control means operatively connected with said circulating means and said valve means for governing the sequence of operation thereof,

electrically operable flow motivating means operatively connected with said reservoir means for motivating and directing liquid treating agent to flow from said storage reservoir means to said intermediate reservoir means, and

flow control means including electrical switch means mounted within said intermediate reservoir means and electrically connected to said flow motivating means for delivering liquid treating agent into said intermediate reservoir means as required by changes in the conductive state of said switch 106012 mstl means and float means mounted for movement within said intermediate reservoir means in response to fluctuation in the level of liquid treating agent retained therewithin such as upon opening of said valve means to admit liquid treating agent into said cabinet, said switch means and said float means cooperating for changing the conductive state of said switch means as required for maintaining a limited quantity of liquid treating agentavailable for admission into said cabinet means.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said flow motivating means comprises pressurization means connected to said storage reservoir means for creating a predetermined pressure therewithin and thereby for imposing on the liquid treating agent retained in said storage reservoir means a force suffrcient to cause the treating agent to flow from said storage reservoir means to said intermediate reservoir means.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said flow motivating means comprises pump means mounted at said storage reservoir means for pumping liquid treating agent to said intermediate storage means and further wherein said flow control means comprises pump control means operatively connected to said pump means for actuating the same in response to a drop in the level of liquid treating agent retained in said intermediate reservoir means to thereby cause the liquid treating agent to flow from said storage reservoir means to said intermediate reservoir means.

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1. An arrangement for reducing the likelihood of accidental release of chemically active liquid treating agents in a food preparation area while accommodating use of such agents in dishwashing and comprising, in combination, dishwasher cabinet means for receiving soiled dishes to be cleaned, means for circulating within said cabinet means a solution of water and a chemically active liquid treating agent, storage reservoir means remote from said cabinet means and for receiving and retaining a bulk quantity of liquid treating agent, intermediate reservoir means mounted on said cabinet means and operatively communicating with said storage reservoir means for receiving and retaining a limited, small quantity of liquid treating agent, valve means interposed between said cabinet means and said intermediate reservoir means for controlling operative communication therebetween and flow of liquid treating agent into said cabinet means, cycle control means operatively connected with said circulating means and said valve means for governing the sequence of operation thereof, electrically operable flow motivating means operatively connected with said reservoir means for motivating and directing liquid treating agent to flow from said storage reservoir means to said intermediate reservoir means, and flow control means including electrical switch means mounted within said intermediate reservoir means and electrically connected to said flow motivating means for delivering liquid treating agent into said intermediate reservoir means as required by changes in the conductive state of said switch means and float means mounted for movement within said intermediate reservoir means in response to fluctuation in the level of liquid treating agent retained therewithin such as upon opening of said valve means to admit liquid treating agent into said cabinet, said switch means and said float means cooperating for changing the conductive state of said switch means as required for maintaining a limited quantity of liquid treating agent available for admission into said cabinet means.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said flow motivating means comprises pressurization means connected to said storage reservoir means for creating a predetermined pressure therewithin and thereby for imposing on the liquid treating agent retained in said storage reservoir means a force sufficient to cause the treating agent to flow from said storage reservoir means to said intermediate reservoir means.
 3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said flow motivating means comprises pump means mounted at said storage reservoir means for pumping liquid treating agent to said intermediate storage means and further wherein said flow control means comprises pump control means operatively connected to said pump means for actuating the same in response to a drop in the level of liquid treating agent retained in said intermediate reservoir means to thereby cause the liquid treating agent to flow from said storage reservoir means to said intermediate reservoir means. 